What kinds of content can be stored on the different kinds of Xbox storage devices?

See the table below for an overview on Xbox storage devices and what can be stored on them.

Xbox content

Xbox
360 Hard Drive

USB memory unit

Xbox 360 Memory Unit

Xbox game data

Yes

Yes

Yes

Themes, icons, avatar items, game contents, demos, and trailers

Yes

Yes

Yes

Arcade titles

Yes

Yes

Yes

Facebook and Twitter pages

Yes

Yes

Yes

Xbox 360 games

Yes

Yes

Yes

Xbox 360 Games on Demand

Yes

Yes

Yes

Movies

Yes

Yes

No

Music files (MP3, WMA)

Yes

Yes

No

Original Xbox games

Yes

No

No

My USB flash drive works fine on my Xbox, but not on my computer

When you format a USB flash drive to its maximum size for use on Xbox 360, your computer can’t read the Xbox 360 custom folder, nor can you see any files saved in that folder. This appears as a private folder named “Xbox 360” on the USB flash drive.

If I use a USB flash drive on my Xbox 360, will I get banned from Xbox Live?

No. In fact, we encourage you to use some form of external storage, such as a USB flash drive, for your game data.

How do I add more space on a USB flash drive I’ve formatted with a customized, small Xbox 360–only folder?

You’ll have to reformat the USB flash drive to make the folder larger, or format the drive to the maximum size of 2 TB. For more information about formatting your USB flash drive, see Using USB flash drives with Xbox 360.

My USB flash drive isn’t showing up at all

Have you configured your device yet?

This is the first time I’m using the USB flash driveYour USB flash drive might not be in the proper format. Plug it into your PC, open up “My computer,” right-click on the USB device, and select “Format.” Format the USB flash drive to FAT32. Make sure to save any files before doing this, as formatting will erase all data on the USB flash drive.

I’ve already configured itTry plugging in your USB flash drive after the console starts up and see if it appears. This is a very uncommon issue, but we’re aware of it and are working to correct the issue. For now, just remember to plug in your USB flash drive after startup.

My USB flash drive un-configured itself

If your USB flash drive suddenly has no data in it, or it has reverted to its pre-configured state, it may not meet all of the requirements for using it with the Xbox 360 console. If you got a warning message during configuration, find a USB flash drive that better meets the requirements for use with the console.

If you want to give your USB flash drive another try, format it to FAT32 again on the PC and then try the configuration process again. Make sure to save your files on the console as well, in case you still encounter a problem.

Why don’t I have a full 2 TB of storage space available on my USB drive?

The Xbox 360 reserves 512 MB of storage space for system use.

What other storage options do I have?

The Xbox 360 500 GB Hard Drive is the best option for media enthusiasts. You'll have 500 GB of space for games, HD TV and movies, Games on Demand, game demos and add-ons, music, and much more. Certain games still require a hard drive for system link play or Xbox Live multiplayer games. For multiplayer gaming, we recommend that you use a hard drive.

What are other users saying about these topics?

To see what other users are saying about these topics, or to ask your own questions, go to our Xbox Support Forums and view the following conversations:

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